Have you recently browsed a few design magazines, or been watching all the room makeovers on social media, and now you suddenly want to revamp your whole house?

STOP! Before you go shopping, read this post and SHOP YOUR HOUSE instead!

But first, why do this:

- You’re sort of tired of seeing the same stuff around;

- Like me, you hate dusting, so you’re using this exercise to potentially retire some decor items (less stuff = less dusting);

- You fail to appreciate what you have because you can’t see it anymore amongst the cluttered corners of your home;

- It’ll be a quick fix for your cabin fever!

Declutter your decor just in time for spring. 

How to Shop Your House

Corral all the bits and bobs in one spot

Commandeer your dining room table or a larger surface, and bring everything to one spot. 

This step is really helpful to see how many decor items you have.

If this is too overwhelming, do this room-by-room instead.

Live with the empty space

Once you have removed all the decor items, live with the empty space for a couple of days; see how that feels.

You might be surprised that the white space you now have has created a lot of peacefulness around you.

Living with the empty space for a little while lets our brains get used to the newness of it. Once you get used to the space, you might not want to fill it back up again.

Shop your kitchen for pretty containers

Many of us have bowls, plates, service ware, and jars that only get used once in a while (or never). 

If you love these containers, why not use them in your decor and get better mileage out of them? They could be used to gather smaller items like jewellery, remote controls, keys, and wallets in the entrance, etc.

Put aside what doesn’t fit anymore

A few decor pieces may not fit with anything anymore. Maybe your style has changed, you’ve downsized or you’ve outgrown a particular item.

You may not even remember why you have them in the first place or where they came from. 

Consider decluttering these items.

Add only a few items at a time

Start by adding only the decor items you absolutely love and can’t live without. Don’t worry too much if they aren’t magazine-worthy for now, but make sure to keep the things that speak to you or mean something.

For us, our Buddha Frog is non-negotiable! It’s one of the first things we bought together and looking at it makes us smile.

Try the decor items out in a few different locations to see where they are going to have the greatest impact or be showcased the best.

Group things together to arrange them in a vignette. That way they look more put together, making your space feel less busy.

Experiment, take a step back and have a look. Give your new setup at least a couple of hours or days to see if you like it or not.

Pair down and donate what you don’t love anymore

Free yourself from the extra stuff by donating to your local second-hand store.

If there are items you still like, but would do better in a different season, box them up and store them for the next time you feel like refreshing your decor.

The Internet would have us believe we have to change our decor constantly. Know that it’s OK to appreciate all the inspiration out there, without buying new things. 

Try to recreate or emulate your inspiration with what you already have instead by shopping your house.

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